Volume 7, Issue 10 ND Guardian Oct 2014

GUARDIANNorth Dakota

Volume 7, Issue 10 October 2014

YOUTH EMPOWERMENTAirmens’ Daughter Gains Leadership Experience

PG. 16

Sapper StakesSoldiers Test Military SkillsDuring Engineer Competition

LEGENDARY

PG. 8

North Dakota’s History on Display in Edwards House

DepartmentsGuardian Snapshots ..................... News Briefs .....................................Sound Off! .....................................

Page 19 2Page 23

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On the Cover

Inside This IssueFeatures

The North Dakota Guardian is an authorized publication for members, families and retirees of the N.D. National Guard.

• Contents of the North Dakota Guardian are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army or Air Force.

• Editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard ( JFND) Public Affairs Officer.

• Printed by United Printing, a private firm in no way connected to the U.S. Government under exclusive written contract with the JFND. Reproduction is by the offset method with a circulation of approximately 4,900.

• The North Dakota Guardian is published by the JFND Public Information Office, Box 5511, Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511, 701.333.2007

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONSContributions to the North Dakota Guardian are encouraged! Send articles, photos and art to Editor, JFND PIO, Box 5511, Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511. Electronic submissions are preferred. Please e-mail stories in Word format to: [email protected]: 701-333-2195 Fax: 701-333-2017Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible.

Commander in ChiefNorth Dakota Governor

Jack Dalrymple

The Adjutant GeneralMaj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk

Chief of Public AffairsSgt. 1st Class Billie Jo Lorius

EditorSgt. Jennifer Joyce

ContributorsMaj. Penny Ripperger

Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Noyes2nd Lt. Eric Jungels

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shelly SizerSenior Master Sgt. David Lipp

Staff Sgt. Eric W. JensenStaff Sgt. Brett Miller

Staff Sgt. Nathaneal BaardsonSpc. Jessica Bilquist

Ms. Shirley Olgeirson

Soldiers of the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) high-carry their RB-15 inflatable boat filled with their “ruck” as part of an obstacle staged during the company’s Sapper Stakes competition held last month in the Jamestown, North Dakota, area. Sapper Stakes is a culminating event that was created to test Soldiers on the training they received over the past year.

16 A ProudHistory

Soldiers who served together over 70 years ago reunited last month to reflect upon the events that led to their lasting camaraderie. The members of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 164th Infantry Regiment celebrated their accomplishments during their 69th annual reunion, taking time to share the story of their unit’s history with guests and family members.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller,Joint Force Headquarters

5 Air ForceExcellence

The North Dakota Air National Guard, also known as the Happy Hooligans, once again received the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The Happy Hooligans are one of only two units in the entire nation to receive the award 16 times. The award was garnered by the N.D. Air National Guard for meritorious service from October 2012 through September 2013.

14 TotalFitness

North Dakota Guardsmen in the Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota, area volunteered as test administrators last month during a Community Fit Fair hosted by the Guard and Bismarck State College at the Sertoma Community Club in Bismarck. The event was designed to promote a culture of total fitness — physical, mental and emotional — for not only military members and their families, but the local community, as well.

I Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk

North Dakota Adjutant General

View From the TopA Message from the Adjutant General

Our Strategic Plan: Road Map for the Future

The North Dakota National Guard last month introduced its 2014-2019 Strategic Plan to commanders and major commands. This plan serves as our organization’s road map for the way ahead. It is important that each of our Soldiers and Airmen know this plan and incorporate it into our day-to-day activities and missions.

I ask that each of you help our plan succeed. Our mission is unchanged. We will “Provide ready units, individuals and equipment to support our communities, state and nation.” This is why we exist. We do this every day.

As we look to the future, we must continue to pursue our vision of being a “dynamic, relevant force where everyone is a trained, mentored and empowered leader.” Everyone must remember that all we do must be connected to our vision, whether it’s 2, 5 or 10 years down the road. What we do now will impact this organization and the people in it for generations.

Personnel and training readiness will be the key to our future success. It is imperative that Guardsmen receive the training they need in a timely manner so they can excel in their duties – this means that occupational specialty schools and leadership schools will be made a priority within all units.

We will continue to face the challenges of tightened budgets, which will impact and shape our force. Now is the time for us to create the organization of the future.

We must continue to look for opportunities to “right-size” the force in the right places and to enhance training and optimize readiness. We are in the process of looking at the future for both the Army and Air National Guard and determining what changes, if any, we need to make in order to maximize the effectiveness of a smaller state force.

Even though we continue to draw down the number of service members engaged in overseas conflict, we still have forces engaged in domestic security missions. We

still mobilize for missions in the longest war the U.S. has ever faced, the Global War on Terrorism. Our National Guard today is at its highest state of readiness, and our Guardsmen wield more knowledge, skill and experience than ever before.

One of our challenges is to retain the collective and individual skills of our Soldiers and Airmen, which we’ve developed during more than a decade of mobilizations. I call on leaders at every level to help determine ways to keep us at our current high level of readiness. Seeking out qualified new enlistees and also retaining experienced Guardsmen remains a priority.

Resiliency is critical during periods of uncertainty and there are many resources available to Guardsmen through the programs we have implemented in the organization. Through the Military Service Centers, we offer programs such as Military OneSource, Yellow Ribbon and other family-focused initiatives to enrich the lives of Guardsmen and the community. Each Guardsman is responsible for instilling resiliency within your ranks by doing your part to maintain cohesion and promoting comprehensive wellness.

As Guardsmen, we understand the importance of community involvement and we all have a purpose. We will continue to maintain and create new partnerships, both internationally and within each of our communities. It also is important for each of you to tell your story, and the Guard story, to your friends, neighbors and to all of those with whom you connect. The support we receive as a result of these partnerships ensures that we continue to be successful in our missions at home and overseas.

Because we provide a valuable asset to our communities and state, we must continue to protect their resources by being aware of our environmental actions and how they impact those that rely on us. We need to be good stewards of our resources and identify efficiencies in the way we operate. This will save us valuable time and

money and ensure that future generations can still benefit from North Dakota’s assets.

In planning for the future, we must remain ready while implementing set goals, which are listed in this article. Only with your help and support can our organization be successful. We will use the challenges we face ahead as opportunities for growth.

Goal 1: Provide trained and ready units and leaders. We must prepare our Soldiers, Airmen and units to meet the challenges of the future.

Goal 2: Build a competitive force positioned for emerging missions. We must continually examine and plan how to maintain our force structure, stationing, facilities and end-strength.

Goal 3: Strengthen the National Guard community. We will foster resilient and healthy Soldiers, Airmen, families and civilian employees by embracing a culture of comprehensive fitness.

Goal 4: Forge and maintain partnerships. Interagency and community partnerships are the core strengths of the NDNG. We will build and maintain these important and enduring relationships.

Goal 5: Act as effective stewards of our resources. Our values guide us to be good stewards of resources entrusted to us. We will implement a holistic resource management system to reduce energy consumption, optimize our resources and make resource informed decisions.

www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 3

chief warrant officer 4 shelly sizer

Command Chief Warrant Officer

Guard PostsDispatches from the N.D. Guard Family

best practices in the warrant officer corps

North Dakota National Guard Army Component Commander Col. Robert Fode recently published his Command Philosophy. Two areas he emphasized were taking care of Soldiers, their families and employers; and maintaining leaders at all levels with the N.D. Army National Guard. He also stated that building a resilient, confident and proficient force means training together and recruiting and retaining the best Soldiers.

The warrant officer corps is an important piece of our “proficient force.” As the N.D. Army National Guard command chief warrant officer, I want to ensure that Col. Fode’s philosophy remains at the forefront of our practices.

The National Guard Bureau recently held conference calls with the command chief warrant officers (CCWOs) of all 54 states and territories in an attempt to identify best practices. Four themes were addressed:

1) The need for a Warrant Officer Advisory Council (WOAC):

The North Dakota WOAC, which has 11 members, was established Apr. 30 of this year. Three main goals for our council are: improving communication among the warrant officer cohort; overall awareness of warrant officer programs and recruiting to available positions. Members of our WOAC include:• Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shelly Sizer• Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas Marsh• Chief Warrant Officer 5 Timothy Quintus • Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelley Yantzer • Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Axtman • Chief Warrant Officer 4 Travis Bridwell • Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kiel Skager • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jammy Ryckman • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Amber Wilson • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Russell Zuraff • Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Rader

2) The need for a full-time, dedicated warrant officer strength manager (WOSM) to address recruiting and

retention of warrant officers: I personally thank Chief Warrant Officer

3 Jade Falcon for his past five years as our WOSM. During that period, the N.D. Army National Guard gained 30 warrant officers. Falcon recently accepted the position of state retention officer-in-charge and interstate transfer manager for the N.D. Army National Guard.

The WOSM position has been filled by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jammy Ryckman. He is committed to filling warrant officer vacancies in our state with strong noncommissioned officers who have the desire to become warrant officers. To achieve this, bonuses of $2,500 to $10,000 are available for selected vacancies. Fellow warrant officers: it is imperative that we recruit and mentor our successors.

If you know of someone who is interested in the warrant officer program, please direct them to Ryckman at [email protected] or 701-451-6337.

3) The need for command emphasis and involvement:

Those of us who wear the uniform know the importance of command emphasis and involvement in programs. We are fortunate that command emphasis relating to warrant officer matters includes participation from the N.D. National Guard Army chief of staff to the adjutant general.

Within the past year, two significant changes have been implemented: As CCWO, I represent the warrant officer corps on the N.D. National Guard Joint Executive Council ( JEC), which consists of senior leadership from the Army and Air National Guard. I represent North Dakota warrant officers at Army staff meetings. I view these opportunities as positive emphasis by commanders to raise awareness about warrant officer-specific matters in our state. We are fortunate to have leadership who view the warrant officer cohort as a strong contributor to mission success.

4) The need for an active and dedicated CCWO: I believe relationships are important and are the focal point of many of the personal goals I have as the CCWO. Below are a few of the initiatives I am developing:

• Weekly e-mail communication about events at the state and national levels

• Oversight of professional military education courses available to warrant officers to ensure timely promotions

• Unit visits in order to meet face-to-face with fellow warrant officers and commanders

• A “Warrant Officer 101” brief for N.D. National Guard leadership, which is used to identify educational gaps

• A quarterly warrant officer-specific newsletter, “The 1918 Journal,” which is soon to be published

• A Warrant Officer Professional Development Day to introduce all warrant officers to the WOAC goals.

It is imperative that we, as warrant officers, work toward maintaining a resilient force in our state while simultaneously meeting and exceeding standards set for us at the national level. I am honored to serve as CCWO and am proud to serve with the finest Guardsman, including the warrant officers of the N.D. Army National Guard.

4 · Guardian · october 2014

By Maj. Penny Ripperger,119th Wing

Happy Hooligans Receive 16th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

It’s another one for the record books. The North Dakota Air National Guard, also known as the Happy Hooligans, once again received the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (OUA). The achievement may seem routine, but this award is anything but ordinary. The Happy Hooligans are one of only two units in the entire nation to receive this impressive award 16 times, with most units claiming the OUA only three to five times.

During an award ceremony at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota, Sept. 13, North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and Col. Kent Olson, 119th Wing commander, congratulated the Happy Hooligans and family members during the unit’s Family Day event (see page 18), when Sprynczynatyk attached the OUA streamer to the unit flag and addressed the unit and family members in attendance.

“I congratulate the Wing, every group

and every squadron, for what you have done to make this happen,” he said. “It's been pointed out that there is another unit that has also been the recipient of the award 16 times, but a huge difference is that they have always followed under an Air Mobility Command with a strictly mobility mission. Here, at the 119th Wing, this recognition falls upon a unit that has literally served and continues to serve in Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Global Strike Command. When you think about the transformation through the years, what this Wing and Airmen of the Wing have accomplished is absolutely incredible.”

The award was garnered by the N.D. Air National Guard for meritorious service from October 2012 through September 2013. During this time, the Wing deployed 107 Airmen supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Homeland Defense for the state of North Dakota,

all through 100 percent volunteerism. In addition, while faced with uncertain aircraft conversion-related issues, the 119th Wing maintained a 92 percent retention and reenlistment rate, exceeding national goals.

“This is an accomplishment that resides on the shoulders of each Airman in this Wing and it makes me so proud to be your commander,” Olson said. “I can't thank you enough for the things you have done. To be a recipient of this award is nothing short of amazing.”

The award recognized the extraordinary level of commitment and performance by the 219th Security Forces Squadron and other Wing members who volunteered for deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, leading 20,000 combat missions in theater. The Airmen of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron were commended for their humanitarian efforts in Latvia and the 219th Security Forces Squadron was recognized for its superb accomplishments in Minot, North Dakota. The Happy Hooligans also were praised for their amazing flying record, which includes over 40 years and 255,810 hours of accident-free flying.

Sprynczynatyk stressed the importance of family members and employers who support Airmen in the N.D. Air National Guard.

“To all of the family members and employers, you’re as much of a recipient as our Airmen,” he said. “It is because of the tremendous support of our families and employers that our units at the Wing are able to successfully carry on the missions. The Airmen and family members of the 119th Wing comprise what is, literally, the best of the best when it comes to Air National Guard units anywhere in this country. Thank you for your service, thank you for what you do. I am extremely proud of all of you.”

North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, right, secures an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award streamer onto the 119th Wing guid-on Sept. 13 at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota, as Col. Kent Olson lowers it into place and Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Muehler, the 119th Wing command chief, looks on.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing


Soldiers who served together more than 70 years ago reunited last month to reflect upon the events that led to their lasting camaraderie. The World War II members of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 164th Infantry Regiment recalled the unit’s accomplishments during their 69th annual reunion.

Of the 11 WWII veterans who attended the event, Dennis Ferk, Gerald Sanderson, Doug Burtell, Ralph Oehlke and Al Moszer were members of the N.D. Army National Guard when the unit was mobilized for “a year of training” in February of 1941.

Louis J. Hanson, then from Jamestown, North Dakota, was drafted later that year, processed through 34th Division Headquarters at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisianna, to join the 164th. Richard Stevens was a Kansas Guardsman who transferred into the 164th just before the regiment sailed for the South Pacific in March 1942.

Seven months later, these soldiers reinforced the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal as the 164th earned the distinction of being the first U.S. Army unit to offensively engage the enemy in WWII.

Burt Coffey and Joe Castagneto joined the regiment on Fiji and went into first combat on Bougainville with the 164th on Christmas Day in 1943. Jim Morrison and C. Sherman Gibson

came to the unit as replacements in the Philippines in 1945. The reunion, which was held at the Seven Seas Motel in

Mandan, North Dakota, also included 11 veterans of the 164th Infantry from the Korean War era, as well as about 50 family members from both generations.

Those who arrived at the Bismarck Airport were greeted by the Bismarck Patriot Guard who formed a flag line and held signs to welcome the veterans. The Patriot Guard also arranged a police and motorcycle escort for the convoy of vehicles carrying reunion attendees to the program at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery and a 188th Army Band concert on Main Street in Mandan. The WWII veterans were honored by a ride in a commercial humvee limousine, and the regimental colors flew from the lead vehicle’s sunroof.

Displays of American and Japanese WWII military equipment were a big draw to participants and walk-in guests.

Next year’s Victory Reunion will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event will be held in Bismarck-Mandan Oct. 9-11, 2015, which corresponds with the 73rd anniversary of the unit’s landing at Guadalcanal on Oct. 13, 1943. The reunion will be part of a larger event, the North Dakota Victory Celebration, which has a goal of locating and honoring all WWII veterans within the state.

North Dakota WWII Veterans Commemorate Guadalcanal Anniversary

Story and photos by Ms. Shirley Olgeirson,The 164th Infantry News

Former members of the 164th Infantry Regiment reunite in Mandan, North Dakota, for the 69th anniversary of the unit’s mission in Guadalcanal during World War II. Back row, from left to right, are Richard Stevens, of Kentucky; Dennis Ferk, of New Mexico; George Dingledy, of Indiana; Gerald Sanderson, of Rugby, North Dakota; Joe Castagneto, of Alabama; Doug Burtell, of Bowman, North Dakota. Seated, from left to right, are Louis J. Hanson, of Bismarck; Sherman Gibson, of New Mexico; Ralph Oehlke, of Enderlin, North Dakota; Jim Morrison, of Missouri.

Dennis Ferk, formerly of Company A, 164th Infantry Regiment, looks at a photo of the 164th Infantry Regiment published in the Bismarck Tribune in 1941. The photo was taken before the regiment mobilized for a “year of training.”


By 2nd Lt. Eric JungelsDetachment 3, 132nd Quartermaster Company

Enduring LegaciesRetired N.D. Air National Guard Generals Honored

If you spend years as a hard-working, dedicated and respected leader, it’s likely you’ll build a legacy that will follow you for decades. And, if you spend decades leading and contributing, it’s possible you’ll be honored and remembered for centuries.

When two former members of the North Dakota National Guard stepped up to serve and lead in the Fargo, North Dakota-based 119th Wing, they probably had no intentions of building a lasting legacy, but they did just that.

Retired Maj. Gen. Alexander Macdonald, former North Dakota Adjutant General, and retired Maj. Gen. Darrol Schroeder, former chief of staff of the N.D. Air National Guard, were both named 2014 Legacy Leaders by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce during the organization’s annual meeting in September.

The Legacy Leader award recognizes the important role and contributions of longtime local leaders in both shaping and serving the Chamber, the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan community and the region.

According to the Chamber, “in terms of military achievement and aviation fame, one cannot imagine Alexander Macdonald without

Darrol Schroeder and vice versa. Both men were raised in Davenport, North Dakota, and both developed a longtime love of aviation and all things airplane-related.”

Macdonald served 45 years in the N.D. Air National Guard, flew every fighter jet the state ever had, logged more than 10,000 military flight hours and retired as the state’s top leader — the first Airman to ever hold the title of adjutant general.

Schroeder’s military career spans over 40 years. He served on active-duty status in Germany and France before joining the National Guard. At his retirement in 1989, Shroeder had reached the rank of major general and had accumulated more than 5,000 fighter aircraft hours.

After retiring from the military, Schroeder became director of business development for the University of North Dakota’s aerospace program and played a key role in acquiring the first civilian high-altitude pressure chamber in the United States. As a civilian, Macdonald worked as chief executive officer of Dakota First Capital Corp., a small business investment corporation in Fargo. Together, Macdonald and Schroeder combined their aviation passion and

business savvy to found the Fargo Air Museum.

In founding the museum, the duo helped develop a mission statement and long-term plan and opened the first hangar in 2001. Both continue to be involved with the museum in a variety of ways. As recent as 2013, Macdonald served as a guide for an aviation history tour at the museum, discussing the Cold War with approximately 150 West Fargo sophomores. Both men were inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

The N.D. National Guard remains impacted by the past and continuing service and commitment of Macdonald and Schroeder. Still contributing significantly to North Dakota today, the former Air National Guard leaders have created strong, enduring legacies.

Retired Maj. Gen. Mike Haugen, former North Dakota Adjutant General, left, and Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce President Craig Whitney, right, present the Legacy Leader Award to retired Maj. Gen. Alexander Macdonald, second from right, and retired Maj. Gen. Darrol Schroeder Sep. 11 during the chamber organization’s annual meeting in Fargo, North Dakota.



Brick By BrickEdwards House Fixtures Chronicle

North Dakota’s 125 Years of Statehood

By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force HeadquartersPhotos by Staff Sgt. brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters


It wasn’t until 1977 when the Stone Cabin, also called the Governor’s Cabin, officially became known as the Edwards House. Built in 1940 using 90-pound stones pulled from the shores of Devils Lake, North Dakota,

the structure was included in a large Works Progress Admin-istration project, which provided upgrades to Camp Grafton Training Center. In addition to the Edwards House, the North Dakota National Guard’s training site gained a number of functional structures, including mess halls, bath houses and a camp infirmary. The construction project was facilitated by “The Builder General,” Maj. Gen Heber Edwards, who is the longest-serving North Dakota adjutant general in the state’s history. The Edwards House is a tribute to the leader’s fore-sight in establishing training sites and facilities to support the N.D. National Guard well beyond the 20th century.

Just inside the west entrance of the building, a portrait of Edwards hangs over a small office desk with a framed citation that reads: “The North Dakota National Guard became one of the most outstanding military organizations in the nation’s reserve structure under General Edwards. Under his leadership,

Camp Grafton was expanded and improved, Fraine Barracks came into being, the Air National Guard complex at Hector Air Field was established and 18 new armories constructed.”

The Edwards House, while designated as an honor to its namesake, continues to operate in many of the same capacities it did in 1940. The building originally served as the headquarters for the North Dakota governor and provided a place to meet and entertain state and national dignitaries. Through the years, it’s also served as quarters for visiting military officials and as a repository for items associated with the state’s military history.

Appropriately, the Edwards House today serves as a luminous archive and homage to the collaboration between the state and its National Guard. This year, on Nov. 2, North Dakota’s citizens will celebrate 125 years of statehood. The N.D. National Guard has been a participant in the state’s history since even before 1889, when it was known as the Dakota Territorial Militia in the 1860s. The following pages showcase just a few of the his-torical items contained within the Edwards House to remember the lineage of the N. D. National Guard’s Soldiers and Airmen and the communities in which they’ve served.


Brig. Gen. Heber Creel, who served as North Dakota adju-tant general from 1905-1907, is credited as the driving force behind securing the site for what is now known as Camp Grafton Train-ing Center. He encouraged the petitioning of the U.S. Congress in 1891 to cede the abandoned Fort Totten military reservation to the state, which later garnered about 1,200 acres for a permanent Guard encampment. Creel’s cavalry dress swords, pictured here, and a pair of German World War I swords now hang on the northern wall on the first floor of the Edwards House.

State Cornerstone

Creel’s Swords

North Dakota’s House

An office desk, situated in the northeast corner on the first floor of the Edwards House, was used by the Speaker of the House in the First Legislative Assembly in North Dakota in 1889.

The corner stones on the front face of the Edwards House fireplace are remnants from the Dakota Territorial Capitol Building in Bismarck, North Dakota. Constructed 5 years before statehood in 1884, the Capitol was swallowed by a fire on Dec. 28, 1930. The “scroll rocks” were salvaged from the destroyed building, as well as the fireplace mantelpiece, which was once part of the front steps of the old Capitol. North Dakota’s current Capitol building was completed in 1934.


A black, overstuffed armchair on the first floor of the Edwards House was once used in the White House in Washington, D.C. Most of the Edwards House’s furnishings have historical significance, including the large banquet table and benches pictured above. Each was construct-ed from oak timbers slavaged from an old brewery building that was located near the entrance of Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. The brewery, which never did produce a single drop of beer, closed when North Dakota entered the Union as a “con-stitutionally dry state” in 1889.

From the Nation’s Capitol

Like Clockwork

A clock from the first county court-house in Grand Forks, North Dakota, rests on the Edwards House fireplace. According to the

N.D. Supreme Court website, the Constitution of 1889 “created a system of district courts to serve as courts of original jurisdiction,” of which “District One,” included Pembina, Cavalier, Walsh, Nelson and Grand Forks counties.

Information used in the descriptions of the Edwards House fixtures was gathered from military sources, including the North Dakota State Government website, “Citizens as Soldiers: A History of the North Dakota National Guard” by Jerry Cooper and a historical narrative about the Edwards House on the North Dakota National Guard website at http://bit.ly/EdwardsHouse.


Raising the StakesEngineer Soldiers Test Technical, Tactical SkillsStory by Sgt. Jennifer Joyce,116th Public Affairs Detachment

Photos by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller,Joint Force Headquarters

The Jamestown, North Dakota-based 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) last month commemorated the end of the training year by conducting a unit-wide competition, known as Sapper Stakes. The event tests the knowledge and capabilities of each Soldier and platoon in the company.

“Sapper Stakes is a culminating event that was created to evaluate our Soldiers’ ability to learn and our ability, as leaders, to train,” said Sgt. 1st Class D.J. Rohrich, a platoon sergeant for the unit. “It also gives Soldiers the opportunity to step up and show company leadership that they

are willing to push themselves physically and mentally.”

817th Engineer Company leadership uses Sapper Stakes as a way to test their Soldiers’ ability to accomplish the company’s mission-essential tasks. This year’s evaluation featured medical, demolition, wire obstacle and land-mine lanes — all areas in which Soldiers were trained during the past year. Additionally, Sapper Stakes evaluates Soldiers on their ability to meet certain Army-wide requirements, like conducting pre-combat checks and inspections and executing preventative maintenance service checks

on equipment — steps which need to be performed for all U.S. Army missions.

Sapper Stakes commenced at 5 a.m. with an ungraded “smoke session,” requiring Soldiers to complete an hour of physical activity before beginning the evaluated portions of the competition. Three platoons, consisting of 15 Soldiers each, participated in the competition this year. The platoons, evaluated as teams, “rucked” to predetermined map coordinates to start the timed competition. Their first destination, and obstacle, was Pipestem Dam, near Jamestown. Each platoon needed to

817th Engineer Company (Sapper) Soldiers build triple-standard constantina wire obstacles during the Sapper Stakes competition held in the Jamestown, North Dakota, area.

Soldiers perform combat life-saving tasks in response to a simulated medical emergency during the medical lane for the Sapper Stakes competition.

Spc. Javier Ortiz performs “rope whips” during an hourlong “smoke session” for the 817th Engineer Company’s Sapper Stakes competition held last month.


coordinate in order to get their assigned RB-15 inflatable boat and vehicles to their next destination across the dam where they began their series of lane evaluations.

The lanes were evaluated by 817th platoon leaders and sergeants who train the company Soldiers throughout the year. During the evaluations, Soldiers were required to take written tests, build or overcome obstacles and perform tasks during scenarios. Erroneous answers resulted in a penalty, adding seconds to the respective platoon’s final time.

“This type of event really brings Soldiers together because it encourages teamwork and cohesion within each platoon,” said Capt. Melland, 817th Engineer Company commander.

1st Platoon, lead by Staff Sgt. William Dion, won the event

An 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) Soldier ties a one-arm, bow-line safety knot in order to “earn” his life vest during the company’s Sapper Stakes competition held last month.

with a time of about 5 hours and 30 minutes, beating the platoon that came in second by 34 minutes.

“I’m proud of how the Soldiers in my platoon performed,” said Dion. “I knew we would do well because we all worked cohesively throughout the entirety of the competition.”

The 817th Engineer Company’s next Sapper Stakes competition is scheduled for the summer of 2015 during the unit’s annual training.

“Sapper Stakes requires a lot of preparation for the company, but it’s great for morale,” Rohrich said. “It’s a fun event and it builds the Soldiers up. All Soldiers are leaders and Sapper Stakes is a great way for our Soldiers to demonstrate that.”


By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen,Joint Force Headquarters

FITNESSFITNESSGUARDIAN

The last throes of summer typically are when members of the North Dakota Army National Guard test their strength during the U.S. Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT. North Dakota Guardsmen in the Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota, area saw the APFT from a different vantage point Sept. 30 when they volunteered as test administrators during a Community Fit Fair hosted by the Guard and Bismarck State College at the Sertoma Community Club in Bismarck, North Dakota. The event was designed to promote a culture of total fitness — physical, mental and emotional — for not only military members and their families, but the local community, as well.

More than 60 Guardsmen and community members first evaluated their physcial fitness during the APFT, which includes three consecutive events: 2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups and a 2-mile run or a 2.5-mile walk. A barrage of cold, fall winds added an extra challenge for Community Fit Fair participants.

Pvt. Jonathan Melvard was one of the attendees who braved the weather to take the APFT, and he welcomed the adversity. New to the National Guard after enlisting this summer, and attending drills with the Bismarck-based Recruit Training Company, the Soldier will travel to warmer climates in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in January to attend Basic Combat Training. After completing his required military courses, Melvard will join the N.D. National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment.

“I saw the event advertised through social media and on posters hanging at the (Raymond J. Bohn) armory. I just wanted to do it (the APFT) as extra practice and

exercise and see what I can do to improve for the APFT,” he said.

The Community Fit Fair offered a whole lot more than physical activity. Attendees had the opportunity to visit an array of resource booths, which offered information about health and wellness, suicide prevention and intervention and available local health and wellness support services. The booths were staffed by representatives from more than 30 military and community organizations, businesses and fitness facilities, including: Abused Adult Resource Center, Bismarck Fire Department,

Bismarck Vet Center, Crossfit Bismarck, Gold’s Gym, Morton Mandan Library Bookmobile, North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services, Job Service of North Dakota, North Dakota Department of Human Services, North Dakota Veterans Affairs, N.D. National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, Sanford Health and St. Alexius.

One of those wellness resource representatives was Shelley Nannenga, development director for Service Dogs for America (SDA) based in Jud, North Dakota. Her organization’s mission,

Fit for LifeGuardsmen, Community Members Promote Wellness in Bismarck-Mandan

Photo by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters

Shelley Nannenga, development director for Service Dogs for America (SDA), gives a command to service dog, Jet, Sep. 30 at an SDA information booth at the Community Fit Fair in Bismarck, North Dakota.


according to its website, is to “enhance and empower the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs.” Nannenga said that SDA trains about 40 dogs at a time by socializing them in foster homes to acclimate them to specific living situations involving those with disabilities. There are about 400 dogs placed throughout the U.S. and Canada. SDA dogs also are able to “assist veterans in the process of managing both the visible and invisible wounds they carry each day, and contribute to their physical, emotional and social well-being,” the organization says.

“The biggest benefit, and the greatest gift, is independence and freedom for the clients,” Nannenga said. “It starts the reintegration back into families for veterans.”

The Community Fit Fair coincided with the closing of September’s nationally-observed Suicide Prevention Month and also the beginning of October, which is recognized as Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

“Our first Community Fit Fair was a great success and we plan on making it an annual event. We had 64 brave participants,

ranging in ages from 4 to 69 years old, willing to take the Army Physical Fitness Test,” said Capt. Michelle Thomsen, N.D. National Guard resilience coordinator, who helped design the event. “There were more than 30 various wellness booths available for people to learn more about the community resources available to them. Another 33 volunteers made this event happen. We look forward to partnering with Bismarck State College again next year for our second event and to build upon a community culture of total fitness.”

Fit for LifeGuardsmen, Community Members Promote Wellness in Bismarck-Mandan

Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Joyce, 116th Public Affairs Detachment

North Dakota Deputy Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Alan Dohrmann holds his son, William’s, feet while 1st Lt. David Stein counts repetitions during the Army Physical Fitness Test sit-up event at the Community Fit Fair hosted by the N.D. National Guard and Bismarck State College.


Fargo, North Dakota, teen Hannah Kraiter, has been selected to represent children of military personnel by becoming a member of the U.S. Air Force Teen Council Program. The council is made up of teens with a U.S. Air Force parent, or parents, from designated geographic regions and works to address issues affecting teens at military bases throughout the world. Only two Air National Guard teens in the United States are selected to join the 11 dependents of active-duty members on the Air Force Teen Council each year.

Hannah is the daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Kraiter and Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter, who are both members of the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo.

“It has been a life-changing experience,” she said.

She began her journey in teen military leadership after her father brought home a flyer that he picked up at the base family program office. The brochure offered a chance for 14-18-year-old dependents of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members to attend a summer camp at

Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park, Colorado, called the Teen Leadership Summit. Another, similar summit operates at Washega 4-H Center in Dahlonega, Georgia. The camps are efforts courtesy of the 4-H Air Force Partnership and U.S. Air Force Airman and Family Services.

“I thought it was a great opportunity at the right time, because she (Hannah) was done with her summer volleyball camps and the leadership camp looked like a good way to build self-esteem,” Kent said.

To be selected for the summit, applicants had to write three or four essay responses from a list of five questions addressing topics like youth involvement in leadership and politics.

Hannah summarized her viewpoints by writing, “eventually, this will become our world and we need to figure out what is best for our country and future generations. Teens need to start listening and paying attention to politics.”

She was one of 120 applicants who were selected.

The summit combined “high-adventure” activities with leadership classes that allowed teens to strengthen their leadership abilities. The event offered hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, horse colt training, arts and crafts, woodworking, technical climbing and archery.

“All the kids had a special bond because we’re all military kids. We learned a lot of leadership skills, we learned how to help in our communities and how to cope when our parents are gone for work, and we had fun,” Hannah said.

The contact with other military dependents and the issues they all deal with led Hannah to search for additional opportunities.

“She was tenacious in wanting to be involved,” said Penny Dale, the youth development specialist for the 4-H/Air Force Partnership and advisor for the Air National Guard dependents.

That tenacity resulted in Hannah’s selection for the Joint Services Teen Council ( JSTC) camp in San Antonio, Texas.

“The summit was for fun. The JSTC was more for leadership training. It taught me how to step up and not be afraid to be a leader and gave me a lot more confidence. They told us no idea is a wrong idea,” Hannah said.

“She came back with ideas about how to improve things for military dependents, and she had newfound excitement and confidence,” Kent said.

That excitement snowballed into Hannah’s application and acceptance for a two-year term on the Air Force Teen Council. She is just learning the demands of the council and trying to fit them into her school and extra-curricular activity schedule as a busy high school junior.

hooligan teen steps upDaughter of n.d. Airmen selected

for Air force teen councilBy Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp,119th Wing

Hannah Kraiter with her parents, Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter and Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Kraiter.



“We have monthly conference calls where we discuss our quarterly projects and try to find ways to improve support for dependent teens in various situations that are unique to the military, like transferring school credits from (outside the united states) to (stateside schools) , finding ways for dependent teens living overseas to get college opportunities and tours, and just finding ways for us to interact and bond,” Hannah said.

As she becomes involved with the groups, Hannah is constantly discovering more opportunities and programs designed to help military dependents. She is developing goals to help teens in her local area.

“We don’t have some of the things (in the Air National Guard) that active-duty kids have, like the teen centers, Keystone club (a teen community service club), and lock-ins, where kids spend time together,” she said. “I want to work on ways to bring awareness to Air National Guard dependents about youth opportunities. I want them to know there is support out there.”

Even Rebecca Clarke, the wife of Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, the director of the Air National Guard, has been a volunteer adult leader at the summit camp and is passionate about the teen programs.

“One of the most important things I saw at camp was the opportunity for Air National Guard youth to learn the structure of the organization and the role their parents play in the defense of this nation, at home and overseas,” she said.

“We are extremely proud of her (Hannah) maintaining a high (grade point average) and participating in sports,” Jennifer said. “For her to be able to juggle these and want to improve herself and help other kids makes us very proud.”

There are two local programs in North Dakota for military dependents of National Guard members: the N.D. National Guard Child and Youth Program, which has offices in Bismarck and Fargo, and Operation: Military Kids. The programs work in coordination with communities to provide educational, social and recreational opportunities for military youth to build life skills to become more resilient.

The N.D. National Guard Child and Youth Program has several events coming up, including a lock-in for military teens in Fargo, World of Aviation Camp in Fargo, a Halloween event in Bismarck, and Military Child Education Coalition Training in Fargo for anyone who works with military youth. There also is a teen panel that meets monthly in Fargo.

For more information about the North Dakota National Guard Child and Youth Program, call Nikki Braaten at 701-451-6109, and for Operation: Military Kids, call Diane Hahn at 701-231-9601.


Happy Hooligans Celebrate Family Day

For the Happy Hooligans, Family Day 2014 was an event that fully-exceeded the expectations of those in attendance. The North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota, buzzed with excitement Sep. 13, as kids competed in an inflatable wrecking ball house, ran through obstacle courses and other inflatable games, raced minnows and had their faces painted. Hooligan families played rounds of mini golf, tried their hand at dunking commanders in a dunk tank and toured a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, courtesy of the N.D. Army National Guard.

New to this year’s event, instructors from North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) BBQ Boot Camp held classes on topics, such as grilling techniques, cooking with various fuel types and the science behind grilling. Participants also were introduced to the utilization of rubs, marinades and seasoning covered information about nutrition, food safety and meat composition.

Not only did the Boot Camp instructors teach the Hooligans and their families how to grill, they served a BBQ feast complete with a whole roasted pig and traditional sides. The Boot Camp was held by a collaboration of animal scientists from the NDSU Animal Science departments and agents from the NDSU Extension Service.

The day’s events wrapped up with an interactive concert by local band, the Front Fenders. No participant was left as front man, Paul Bougie, jumped from person to person until nearly everyone in the crowd was singing, dancing or both.

Despite the wind and cool weather, Family Day 2014 was a wonderful chance to celebrate the families that help to make the N.D. Air National Guard great.

Tech. Sgt. Dennis Olson, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, is surrounded by his children Sept. 13 during Family Day at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota.

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathaneal Baardson,119th Wing

Photos by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp,119th Wing

1st Lt. Dan Sly, of the 119th Wing, helps his son with the finer points of miniature golf Sept. 13 during Family Day. Family Day is a biannual event that gives unit members a chance to bring their families on base for an organizational, bond-building celebration. The events are designed to show appreciation for the sacrifices endured by military families.

Austin Germolus, the North Dakota State University meat labs manager, right, gives an animated presentation as part of the BBQ Boot Camp, a fun and informal presentation concerning meat preparation, during Family Day.

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Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Muehler, the 119th Wing command chief, left, provides a tour of facilities for Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, the senior enlisted advisor for the National Guard Bureau, Sep. 16 at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base, Fargo, North Dakota.

Staff Sgt. Shelly Pherson, a recruiter for the 119th Wing, hands out candy to kids Sept. 20 on the West Fest, a West Fargo, North Dakota, community celebration.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing Photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Baardson, 119th Wing


From left, band members of Helena Handbasket Josh Maynard, guitar, Chris Hanson, bass guitar, DeAnne Fylling, saxophone, Eddie Schwind, alto saxophone, and Bill Dablow, vocals, perform Sept. 13 on a balcony overlooking Broadway Avenue in Fargo, North Dakota, at ESPN College Game Day. The performance was held prior to a North Dakota State University Bison football game.Hanson, Fylling and Landman are members of the N.D. Army National Guard’s 188th Army Band.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters


The North Dakota National Guard Military Funeral Honors team rendered “Planeside Honors” as they received the remains of an Army Guard Soldier Oct. 3 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Pvt. Karissa Morgen Ulmer, 19, of Sawyer, North Dakota, passed away at Fort Lee, Virginia, Sept. 27 while attending a U.S. Army course for initial entry training.

Senior Airman Roy Roach, of the 119th Medical Group, draws a blood sample from a unit member Oct. 5 for a physical health assessment at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota.


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Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Joyce, 116th Public Affairs Detachment


Jesse Orgaard, father of fallen Soldier, Spc. Tyler Orgaard, addresses a crowd at a Memorial Ceremony Sept. 11 in Bismarck, North Dakota, which commemorated North Dakotas service members who died in the Global War on Terrorism.

Maj. Mike Green, a North Dakota Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot, adjusts instruments Sept. 16 prior to take-off from Camp Grafton, North Dakota.


NewsBriefs

North Dakota AviatorsReturn to United States

Devils Lake Unit Takes Top Honors in Army-Wide Competition

Soldiers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment are greeted by North Dakota National Guard leadership upon their arrival to Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 6 after a yearlong peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters

A North Dakota Army National Guard unit joined 35 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard maintenance organizations last week as one of the top logistics and maintenance support units in the nation. Personnel from North Dakota’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS), based at the Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, North Dakota, accepted the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) in the “Small Tables of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) Unit” category Sept. 10 during the 10th Annual Combined Logistics Excellence Awards (CLEA) ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

According to the U.S. Army, the CLEA program was developed “to honor the best units in the categories of deployment, supply and maintenance.” North Dakota’s CSMS was recognized for demonstrating excellence in maintenance operations. A unit or maintenance shop’s performance is gauged by a number of indicators, including overall accomplishments, effective use of maintenance resources, management

innovation and improving and sustaining maintenance readiness.

Gen. Ray Odierno, U.S. Army chief of staff, hosted the CLEA ceremony and told the award winners, “This is about the total Army. Our logistics enterprise represents what our Army is all about. It’s about a combination of active, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers doing their jobs to ensure we’re ready. I couldn’t be more proud of what you do and what you represent.”

The CSMS’ road to securing its AAME and attending the CLEA ceremony began more than a year ago. To make it to the top level of the Army-wide maintenance competition, the unit first submitted a nomination packet outlining its maintenance missions, training plans, environmental compliance standards and community service activities. The packet, along with 75 other entries from the CSMS’ region, was evaluated in August 2013. North Dakota’s region includes maintenance units and facilities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

The unit won the AAME in the regional competition for its category and, later, the National Guard-wide competition, which

advanced it to the semi-finals of the Army-wide competition. To move beyond the semi-finals, the CSMS hosted a team of evaluators from the AAME program this spring, which conducted an on-site evaluation, toured the CSMS’ facilities and visited with full-time personnel.

“This is a monumental achievement for our maintenance Soldiers who run our Combined Support Maintenance Shop. They’ve always done an exceptional job, and they’ve further proven their abilities and competence by earning this national recognition,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “I congratulate them and thank them for exceeding maintenance standards and for their commitment to supporting our Soldiers and their equipment in the field.”

North Dakota’s CSMS provides maintenance support for more than 60 N.D. Army National Guard units. Its operations include automotive, communications, electronics, armament, inspections, calibration and repair and service support.

About 40 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers with the Bismarck-based Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment arrived on U.S. soil in Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 6. The unit returned from a yearlong deployment to Kosovo, where the Soldiers supported an international peacekeeping mission.

Under the leadership of Capt. Russ Sundby, of Fargo, North Dakota, and 1st Sgt. Jim Lind, of Bismarck, the unit operated Black Hawk helicopters as part of the Kosovo Forces, or KFOR, 18 Aviation Task Force in support of the U.S.-led Multi-National Battle Group East, which conducts military peace support operations in Kosovo. The North Dakota aviators provided air transport for U.S. and NATO Forces, including training and assistance to the Kosovo Security Forces.

N.D. National Guard leadership, including Maj. Gen. David

Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, traveled to Fort Hood to greet the unit upon its arrival there.

The Guard Soldiers will complete

demobilization briefings, healthcare checks and paperwork at Fort Hood before they’re expected to return to North Dakota mid-month.


Chaplains’ Corner:

By Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Noyes,136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Noyes presents Col. David Banoenuma Bangsiibu, Ghanaian directorate of religious affairs, with a North Dakota State Partnership Program Event Tribute plaque as a token of thanks and appreciation after a weeklong conference in Accra, Ghana.

Contributed photo

Last month, I had the pleasure of partnering with Chaplain (Col.) Charlie Reynolds, command chaplain of U.S. Army Africa, to present Ghanaian military chaplains, imams and military chapel pastors the principles of combat and operational stress control (COSC). North Dakota’s State Partnership Program with Ghana promotes engagements like this in order to strengthen our forces. The engagement went very well and I would like to share with you a brief overview of the event.

So, what is considered a combat and operational stress threat within our ranks? Many stressors in a combat situation come from deliberate enemy actions aimed at killing, wounding or demoralizing our military and our allies. Other combat stressors might also include witnessing the death of an individual or unit member, or experiencing injury. Examples of operational stressors include prolonged exposure to extreme geographical environments, such as desert heat or arctic cold; reduced quality of life and communication resources over an extended period of time, prolonged separation from family, or exposure to significant injuries over multiple missions. Whether we are training at home or during deployment, combat and operational stress is a reality of all military missions. And, while it is said that most military members work through their combat and operational experiences, others struggle to adapt. Therefore, the ultimate goal of COSC is to build and maintain resilience in individuals and units.

The key to maintaining this resilience is adwuma boa. In their native language of Twi/Akan, the Ghanaians use this term, which means, “work together.” According to Field Manual 4-02.51,

Combat and Operational Stress Control, working together is an “adaptive stress reaction” and is an effective way to maintain resilience by working together among peers (horizontal bonding), working together between leadership and subordinates (vertical bonding), creating a sense of identification and membership in the team (esprit de corps) and working together as a team (unit cohesion).

Adwuma boa can start with a handshake. Each morning, Chaplain Reynolds made sure to greet each chaplain/imam and military chapel pastor as they entered the conference hall by saying, “Me ma wo akye,” which means, “good morning.” It is a verbal acknowledgment and a meaningful handshake. Throughout the duration of the weeklong visit, we took scheduled breaks to build rapport and unit cohesion.

COSC is the commander’s responsibility at all levels. However, he or she works together (adwuma boa) with staff, unit leaders, unit chaplains and medical

personnel to establish and maintain stress control. It’s a universal practice — we must all adwuma boa in order to succeed as a team. Representing a team of ready responders to stress, I can safely say that we (chaplains, counselors and other health care providers in the N.D. National Guard) are not only equipped to provide care, but we genuinely care about our Soldiers, Airmen and their families. So, if you find the pressures of life closing in around you, please reach out to us and, together (adwuma boa), we will overcome.

At the conclusion of our visit, Chaplain Reynolds and I felt our time with the Ghanaian chaplaincy was very successful, as we partnered together to learn how to better care for those who have been entrusted to us by God.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

ADWUMA BOA“Work Together”


SoundOff!

Photo by Spc. Jessica Bilquist, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

Ten volunteers, known as “the regulars,” were honored for their service Oct. 1 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. The volunteers in black jackets are Phil Ehli, Vern Fetch, Quirin Friese, Earl Hannel, Les Hornbacher, Ben Kemp, Fred Kraft, Marv Martel, Herb Mittelstedt and Howie Unterseher (not pictured) are among a group of 22 people that donate their time to mow the N.D. Veterans Cemetery over a 20-week period each summer. They received jackets from the N.D. Veterans Cemetery Board of Directors as a token of thanks and appreciation.

Volume 7, Issue 10 ND Guardian Oct 2014

Documents

Transcript of Volume 7, Issue 10 ND Guardian Oct 2014